How to Speak "Architect": A Visual Guide to Windows & Architectural Terms

"I want a lot of natural light and gorgeous windows with as much glass as possible."

During my very first sales job selling replacement windows and doors in the Atlanta area, I heard this from clients all the time. It makes perfect sense—windows are the primary bridge between the indoors and the outdoors, making them absolutely vital to a home’s design. Today I still hear this phrase often while talking to homeowners who are on their way toward designing and building their own custom home.

But getting them right is no easy task. Windows are often one of the most expensive line items on a construction project. Worse yet, picking the wrong ones will continue to drain your wallet through lost energy savings and costly repairs down the road.

Whether you are designing your permanent dream home or a short-term rental property, you want to get it right from the start.

If my time in the industry taught me anything, it’s that windows are definitely not created equal. They vary wildly in function, style, and architectural purpose.

To help you navigate the process, I’ve broken down 6 essential window styles and architectural terms often used in custom home design.

Consider this your cheat sheet to talking shop with your architect, ensuring you get the exact look, feel, and efficiency you need.

Architectural Terms and Window Types

1. The Double-Hung Window

The double-hung window is the most recognizable style in the U.S., integral to Colonial Revival and Craftsman homes.

Visual Characteristics: This window is defined by two vertical sashes (the movable parts holding the glass). Both the top and bottom sashes slide vertically within the frame. A hallmark detail of traditional double-hung windows is the presence of muntins (or grids), which divide the large glass area into smaller “lights” or panes (e.g., “four-over-four,” as seen above in our custom home Spring Camp in Ellijay, GA ).

Best For: Classic, historic appeal. Both sashes open for excellent ventilation control and natural convection.

2. The Casement Window

Casement windows are often associated with European architecture, but gained popularity in mid-century American homes and are now an icon of modern and contemporary design.

Visual Characteristics: Unlike the sliding action of a double-hung window, a casement window is hinged on one side and opens outward like a door. This operation is almost always controlled by a hand crank on the inside sill. Seen above is Transart in Canton, GA designed by architect James Knight. Photo by Kalyn Kight

Best For: Maximizing views and capturing breezes. When open, the entire window acts as a sail, funneling fresh air into the home.

3. The Awning Window

The awning window, similar to the casement, often complements other window styles in modern designs.

Visual Characteristics: An awning window is hinged at the top and opens outward from the bottom. Like the casement, it typically operates with a crank. While the awning is often wider than it is tall, its defining characteristic is the way it forms a small “roof” when open. You can see this outward push at the bottom, giving a different profile than the side-hinged casement and the sliding double-hung.

Best For: Providing ventilation even during light rain, as the outward-sloping glass deflects water. They are frequently installed high on walls for privacy or below large picture windows to provide airflow.

4. The Picture Window

The picture window is built for views and light, key in Ranch, Mid-Century Modern, and contemporary homes.

Best For: Living areas where a stunning view is available like the one seen here at Hidden Lake in Cherry Log, GA and air quality/ventilation is handled by other windows or mechanical systems. Architecture by James Knight. Photo by Kalyn Kight ( Reynard Architectural Designs )

A large, fixed window with a thin frame to maximize glass area. The purpose is to frame an outdoor view rather than provide ventilation.

5. The Bay or Bow Window

Bay and bow windows are less about operation and more about architectural projection. They are defining features of Victorian architecture, but are common additions to many traditional American homes.

A classic bay structure projecting from the light-gray clapboard siding, adding a new dimension to the home’s exterior. Usually these windows are found in kitchens and breakfast nooks or front facing dining areas.

Visual Characteristics: This is a combination of window units that project outward from the house's main wall.

• Bay Window: Usually three glass panels—a large central fixed window (like Image 4), flanked by two smaller venting units (double-hung or casement, see Images 1 and 2). Panels meet at acute angles, often 30 or 45 degrees.

• Bow Window: Uses four or more equal-sized units to form a gentle curve.

Best For: Creating indoor nooks, maximizing light from several angles, and adding exterior interest.

6. The Jalousie Window

The jalousie (or louvered) window is not seen much in Georgia architecture in the Southeast. This window type is known for its function and is closely tied to mid-century houses in warm climates like Florida, California, and Hawaii.

Best For: Allowing maximum ventilation. Louvered windows predated air conditioning, providing strong airflow, while tilted slats offered shade and deflected rain.

Visual Characteristics: This window is composed of several parallel glass slats (louvers) set into a metal frame (usually aluminum). These slats are not fixed; rather, they are connected to a mechanism that tilts them open and closed in unison, as opening a set of blinds, typically by a crank or lever.